This programme is designed for candidates applying for a Visa under the Youth Mobility Scheme of the United Kingdom.

AIMS

Our English and employability skills course is designed in collaboration with our employment partners. The sessions aim to prepare candidates on how to make the transition from overseas employment to work in the UK, covering all aspects of speaking, writing, listening, reading including the selection and recruitment process. The workshops will cover the skills that are most valued by employers, how candidates can reflect on those and how to articulate their experiences clearly when talking to employers.

WHY EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

We recognise that employability skills are increasingly becoming as important to employers as educational achievement. In addition to a strong academic background, employers require individuals with a range of core work competencies such as team working, commercial awareness and presentation skills. It has also been recognised that there is a gap between what overseas graduates expect and what employers need in the UK. Our aim is to work with employers to bridge that gap and help manage expectations on both sides, thus making our candidates more employable.

BENEFITS TO YOU

Improve your English and Employability skills and in turn achieve employment opportunities in the UK.

Depending on the Level of English, Candidates could choose from 8 weeks to 12 weeks duration. 15 hours per week.

START DATE

11th July 2016

8th August 2016

12th September 2016

10th October 2016

7th November 2016

FEES

4 weeks including placement - £1200

8 weeks including placement - £1995

12 weeks including placement -£2795

WORKING TERMS

Minimum 37.5 hours per week

National Minimum Wage: £7.20 per hour

Overtime : employers discretion.

Employment up to 18 months.

Guidance Notes on Applying a Visa under the Youth Mobility Scheme of the United Kingdom

I. The Scheme

1. From 1 January 2014, Hong Kong has become one of the participants of the Youth Mobility Scheme1 (YMS) of the United Kingdom (UK).

2. To be eligible for YMS, an applicant must:

· be aged between 18 and 30 on the day the visa application is lodged;

· not be accompanied by any dependents during the journey;

· be ordinarily resident in the HKSAR and hold a valid HKSAR passport or British National (Overseas) passport (BNO passport);

· hold a departure ticket, or have sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket; and

· be able to produce financial proof of available funds (currently set at £1,890) to support himself/herself.

3. 1,000 places will be available for Hong Kong youths who possess a valid HKSAR passport to travel to the UK every year. Applicants are required to obtain a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before submitting their visa applications to the UK Visa Application Centre in Hong Kong. There is no annual quota for holders of BNO passport and neither are they required to possess a CoS.

4. Successful applicants under YMS will be granted an entry visa to the UK. They are allowed to enter and stay in the UK for a period of up to 24 months. During their stay, they can engage in work, privately-funded studies and/or voluntary work of choice2.

5. Apart from meeting the eligibility criteria in Paragraph 2 above, holders of HKSAR passport must also possess a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)when applying for an entry visa to the UK under YMS.

6. The CoS requirement does NOT apply to holders of BNO passport. Holders of BNO passport can submit their applications for entry visa under YMS direct to the UK Visa Application Centre in Hong Kong.

7. The Labour Department of the HKSAR Government administers the allocation of CoS in Hong Kong.

Eligibility for CoS Registration

8. To be eligible for registering for a CoS, a registrant must:

· be aged between 18 and 30 on the day the visa application is made;

· be a holder of a valid HKSAR passport; and

· not have previously spent time in the UK as a ‘Working Holidaymaker’ or a YMS temporary migrant.